Spinning top



W. E. BROWN SPINNING TOP May 14, 1929.

Filed Ot. 8, 1928 Patented May l4, 1929.

PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM E. BROWN, OIE PATBICIA, TEXAS.

srmn ne TOP.

Application filed Optober 8, 1928. Serial No. 311,206.

This invention relates to spinning tops, one of the objects being to provide a toy oi? this character which can be operated Without the usual cord ordinarily Wrapped about I; the top and subsequently pulled therefrom.

A further object is to provide a top which can be caused to spin on a supporting surface or can be used as a gyroscope suspended from a cord.

lVith the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter de scribed and claimed it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment oil the in-' vention herein disclosed may be made within the scope ot what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

in the accompanying drawings the preferred forms of the invention have been sl 1 ()Wii in said drawings,

Figure 1 is an elevation oi a top and one term oi operating means provided therefor.

lTigure'Q is an elevation of the top with another term of operating means.

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the top,

Figure 4 is a section through the top showing th same suspended by a cord for spinc a gyroscope.

iring to the figures by characters of i shoe, 1 designates the body of the top w h can be formed of sheet metal or any other suitable material and has a central stem E4 extending therethrough, one end of the stem being pointed and extending a short distance from the body as shown at 3 while the other end of the stem is extended a greator distance from the body and is provided with an annular groove l near its free end.

liorn'ied in the body at the top and bottom thereof are openings 5 and 6 Which are out oi alinement, the stem being extended be tween them.

The operating means consists of a single length of Wire bent to form an elongated coil having a handle at one end, the coil being indicated at 7 and the handle at 8.

If it is desired to spin the top on a supporting surface the spiral 7 is inserted into the opening 5 and around the stem 2 and is the body 1..

screwed through the body 1, emerging at the opening 6. By holding the body 1 the spiral or coil 7 will. gravitate therethrough until the handle portion 8 is broughtagainst A push wire 9 is then inserted into the coil so as to bear against the end oi stem 2 and by thrusting the rod longitudinially the top will be pushed cit of the CO1 As the top is pushed oil of the coil it will be rotated thereby, it being possible, by giving a rapid thrust against the stem, to cause the body to rotate at a high speed. The pointed end 3 of the stem will drop on to a supporting surface and the top will then spin like an ordinary top.

Instead of operating the top as described one end oi? a cord 10 can be fastened loosely within the groove 4: and the body 1 can be reversed so that the coil will first enter the opening 6 and then emerge through the opening By holding the body 1 the coil 7 can be caused to gravitate therethrough as heretofore explained and during this action a portion of the cord will be received by the coil as shown in Figure 2. Thereafter, by pulling on the cord 10 the body can be pulled oil of the coil during which time the coil will rotate it at a high speed. Thus a'i ter the body leaves the coil it will be suspended from the cord and will spin at any desired angle relative thereto. See Fig ure 4-.

What is claimed is:

1. The combination with the body of a spinning top having a stem, of actuating means including a coiled wire threaded through the body and around the stem, and means within the coil for shifting the body longitudinally of the coil thereby to spin the body and remove it from the coil.

2. The combination with the body of a spinning top having a stem, 0]": actuating means including a coiled wire threaded through the body and around the stem, and means within the coil and engaging the stem for shifting the body longitudinally of the coil thereby to spin the body and remove it from the coil.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto aflixed my signature.

WILLIAM E. BROWN. 

